Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 2655 Location: new paltz, NY
Posted: Mon May 13, 2013 8:03 pm Post subject:
Gearing up for a memorial weekend trip. Fresh new bikepacking ride is in effect. Thanks Steve @ revolution cycles! _________________ If I can bicycle, I bicycle.
David Attenborough
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 2655 Location: new paltz, NY
Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 6:35 pm Post subject:
Round IV: Rain tweaked with the plans a bit... Decided last minute to get out for an overnight once the skies cleared.
Great ridge views heading out-
Snack break before cruising into high falls-
Crowded climb up Overlook resulted in many "you 'da man's"
River view near lean to-
Decided to press on up and over secret trail to make for Palenville for the night. Bad call-fatigue, bike weight, horrible trail/trail conditions made for very slow going...there was a three hour hike a bike thrown in there somewhere.
A few respites-
one of two waterfalls-
View of the viewpoint at North South Lake (Inspiration point?)
Home sweet home...
Great morning view on Blue Mtn road on the way home-
Think I may be getting hungry-
Day 1: 55 miles/75K elevation
Day 2: 40 miles/1500-2K elevation _________________ If I can bicycle, I bicycle.
David Attenborough
Support your LBS-Bicycle Depot New Paltz NY
Last edited by jamesframes on Tue May 28, 2013 2:00 pm; edited 2 times in total
Joined: 28 May 2011 Posts: 493 Location: Poughkeepsie
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 12:03 pm Post subject:
That's impressive you towed the motorhome all the way up there!!
Have you thought about a bivy sack instead of a tent at all? While a little tight, prob half the size/weight of a tent. Plus you can get em with hoops to lift off your body, and even enough room to read. I'd suggest taking a garbage bag tho to keep your gear dry should it rain (learned that one the hard way). _________________ Studies have shown that riding a bicycle everyday makes you more awesome than the general population.
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 2655 Location: new paltz, NY
Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 8:53 am Post subject:
Bill-Maybe the trail could be good...but will definitely require some hike a bike. Bone dry conditions would help alot, from what I have heard, that does not happen too often.
Sam-I still like the comforts of a tent...especially in our area where the weather can vary. Think my tent weighs 2lb-so not like I would shave off a crazy amount for what I would be giving up. _________________ If I can bicycle, I bicycle.
David Attenborough
Joined: 28 May 2011 Posts: 493 Location: Poughkeepsie
Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 9:05 am Post subject:
Jamie - don't blame you...summertime is tough in a bivy sack. I usually only use mine late fall/winter/early spring when backpacking. It's not so much the weight, but the fact that it's about as big as 1 1/2 nalgene bottles (MUCH smaller) and backpack isn't so stuffed with all the extra cold WX gear. If you don't mind, I'd like to pick your brain sometime on some of the details (I'd like to give this a try, seems like a lot of fun!). _________________ Studies have shown that riding a bicycle everyday makes you more awesome than the general population.
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 2655 Location: new paltz, NY
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 1:10 pm Post subject:
Out again for a "quick" overnight. Started around noon from the Harding Parking Lot in Palenville. The climb was in very good shape other than a few downed trees.
Made my way on the usual route to the viewpoints. Trail was the driest I have ever seen it.
After reaching North/South Lake, I jumped onto the new Kaaterskill Railtrail. This is a short, dirt trail that is a great alternate to the road. The only downside is that many of the historic rail ties are still in the ground making for a bumpy ride on a 50lb rigid.
Took rt 25, to 23c, to 40 into Windham. After refueling at the Cave Brewery and getting some beta at Windham Mtn Outfitters I headed down rt 23 to the trailhead for Elm Ridge. This seems the best way in...trails are very well marked and nice and flowy.
At the top of the ridge is the Elm ridge lean to. Day 1: 30 miles, 4k elevation.
Someone had a tough time driving their Neon home...
Rode out in the AM down about a mile of trail down to Peck Road-this was a chunky roock decent. Then doubled back the road section and made the bomb down past Kaaterskill Falls. This route will make a great addition to a multiday Catskill trip...
Day 2: Two big climbs, two big decents. 18 miles _________________ If I can bicycle, I bicycle.
David Attenborough
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 2655 Location: new paltz, NY
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 8:43 pm Post subject:
With winter coming, there is no better time to head south...planning has begun for a Christmas in Costa Rica via bike with the little lady. Flying with gear and bikes on Jetblue. Hosteling the first night, stashing bike box, then pedaling the Nicoya Peninsula for 4-5 nights.
the elves are busy at work-
_________________ If I can bicycle, I bicycle.
David Attenborough
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 2655 Location: new paltz, NY
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 8:04 pm Post subject:
Gear Breakdown (for gear nerds)
AL Superfly:
Revelate Designs Sweetroll Bar bag-Big Agnes Flycreek x2 with poles, footprint, and fly. Big agnes sleeping pad.
Revelate Designs Tangle Frame Bag--one side bike tools (shock pump, air pump,lube, tubes, multi tools, gorilla tape, zip types, chain tool) One side hygiene stuff.
Revelate Designs Pika Saddle--shorts, bike shorts x2, undergear x2, shirts x2, socks x2, wind/rain light coat, long sleeve base.
Phantom Pack System Feedbag-camp knife, camelbak all clear purifier
One water bottle cage w/ bottle
Revelate Designs Gas Tank-tube, food
Surly Karate Monkey:
Phantom Packs Bar Bag-barefoot shoes x2 pair, Big Agnes sleeping pad, rain coats.
Revelate Designs/Surly Frame Bag--jerky, food. Bladder 3 Liters, flask.
Revelate Designs Viscacha Saddle--shorts, bike shorts x2, undergear x2, shirts x2, socks x2, wind/rain light coat, long sleeve base, sleeping bag liners Sea to Summit x2, roll o' tp.
Revelate Designs Gas Tanktube, food, camp knife.
Wingnut Backpack: bike lock, book, random odds and ends.
Topeak Backpack- empty.
No cooking supplies. _________________ If I can bicycle, I bicycle.
David Attenborough
Joined: 28 May 2011 Posts: 493 Location: Poughkeepsie
Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 6:26 pm Post subject:
Jaime - You'll just eat out each meal since your not taking a pot or stove? _________________ Studies have shown that riding a bicycle everyday makes you more awesome than the general population.
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 2655 Location: new paltz, NY
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 10:17 am Post subject:
Arrival at hostel in Tarmarindo. We stayed the first and last night and were able to store the bike boxes here.
From Tamarindo, we traveled south for three nights, then returned north over two. Over final destination was Playa Islita- roughly 80 miles south. We averaged 35 miles per day. The riding was remote, dirty, hot, and amazing. We did not cook, stopped for food along the way. Worked hard everyday for 6 hours or so, then had 'vactiontime' for the second half of the day. Bikes probably weighing in at 60lbs.
We saw many creatures along the way:
dog outside of a soda
armadillo
howler on wire
caracara
our nightime beach dog stray(many dogs here). On this beach, we watched sea turtles exit the water to lay eggs!
macaw
moo
birdsized grasshopper
iguana
_________________ If I can bicycle, I bicycle.
David Attenborough
Support your LBS-Bicycle Depot New Paltz NY
Last edited by jamesframes on Mon Dec 30, 2013 10:28 am; edited 1 time in total
Out for a single overnight...goods news is that the weather held. My legs did not though...
I was hoping to get out to the Willowemoc area and explore, but I ran out of gas long before. FYI-Grahamsville is a very quiet place 9pm on a Friday night...rolling through town with the handlebar torch no food was to be found.
The plan was to leave the in laws a day early for a three day ride home from Bridgton, ME. After the first long day on pavement and several near misses with vacation-goers, bagged this one and had the sag wagon pick me up the next morning (GG left a day after me from Maine).
Did manage to get a great ride in-11o miles w/ some big climbs. Battled a roadie for a bit at the close of my day. Highlight was my waiter in white river jct. offering up his front lawn which happened to be across the street from the cafe.
The trip started with a rough bike assembly in the Cancun hostel (two wheels lost their stan's and had to use only two tubes...and one turned out to be a 26er) and continued to be a challenge for the rest of the go.
After riding to the bus station and hopping a 2 hr bus ride to Valladolid, we began heading south east toward Coba and Tulum and eventually Punta Allen before taking a bus back to Cancun from Tulum.
We had also planned on a section through the Sian Kann Biosphere via water taxi-but local beta gave mixed reports of if roads still exist. We decided to pass on this option.
Between the GPS and Map, neither provided a definitive picture of road layout. Although we found some dirt, roads on the Maya Riviera are few and usually paved expressways (with bad headwinds off the ocean). Oh-and the Yucatan Peninsula is suuuppper flat..but did I mention the warm sun?
It's the journey not the destination right? Highlights were absolutely wonderful friendly local people and truly Mexican experiences. These came at the cost of some less-than-super-fun riding and our healthy intestinal bacteria. A big full moon over a Caribbean ocean at garbage beach was another keeper.
All times are GMT - 4 Hours Goto page Previous1, 2, 3Next
Page 2 of 3
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum